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BLOOMSBURG—Despite four players in double figures the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team lost to Philadelphia University (8-5), 76-72, in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday at the Nelson Field House.
 
The game was a back and forth battle with the biggest lead for Bloomsburg (7-4) being seven points, while the Rams biggest advantage was six points.
 
In the opening period the teams were tied six times and had seven lead changes. The Rams led by four on two occasions, but it was the Huskies' Alyssa Mack (Walnutport/Allentown Central Catholic) hitting a three-pointer as time expired that gave Bloomsburg a 25-24 lead going to the second period.
 
The Huskies opened the second period on an 8-2 run giving them a 33-26 advantage. Mia Hopkins (Pittston/Pittston Area) opened the period with a put back of a Morgan Klunk (Felton/York Catholic) miss, followed by a layup from Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights). After a bucket by the Rams, Julia Gantz (Havertown/Archbishop John Carroll) and Alex Ross (Lancaster/Manheim Township) nailed field goals on back-to-back trips down the court for the seven-point Huskies lead.
 
Philadelphia rallied and used a 15-2 run to erase the deficit and go up by six points, 41-35, late in the period. But, the Huskies closed the half on a 6-0 with Hopkins getting a conventional three-point play with eight seconds to play to knot the score at 41-all at the break.
 
Bloomsburg started the third period quickly with Kristie Costantino (Norristown/Archbishop John Carroll) hitting a deep 3-pointer and Hopkins getting a fast-break layup off a Rams turnover to make it 46-41 with 9:12 left in the period. The Rams got back in the game with some strong inside play by Tori Arnao and Mary Newell. The pair combined to score 11 of the Rams' third period points.
 
In the fourth period the Huskies led 68-62 with 7:34 to play on a layup by Sadowski. But the Rams once again rallied and used a 13-2 over the next five minutes to go on top 75-70 with 2:18 to play. An Alex Ross (Lancaster/Manheim Township) layup cut the lead to 75-72 with 2:00 to go. A steal by Klunk and a foul on her shot attempt sent the junior to the line for a chance to cut the lead to just one with 1:24 left. However, the usually solid free throw shooter, misfired on both attempts with the Rams rebounding.
 
Philadelphia though also had its troubles at the line missing three of its final four attempts from the line giving the Huskies some life. But two late 3-point shots by the Huskies were off the mark giving the visitors a win.
 
Newell finished with a game-high 23 points for the Rams, while Arnao had 17 points and 21 rebounds.
 
Bloomsburg got 19 points from both Sadowski and Hopkins, while Ross finished with 12 and Costantino 11.
 
The Huskies return to action on Sunday, Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. hosting Slippery Rock.